Filling valve



May 27, 1941. c. E. Kr-:RR

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1957 A6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR. '/Mf/ca. /fcf/ 85%@ A ATToR EY.

l 3, .fz 27 fly f May 27, 1941- c. E. KERR FILLING VLVE Filed Aug. 14, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Jil/11401 May 27 1941- c. E. Kl-:RR 2,243,463

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 LS l l nf'n/avg xi i 7/ 72 W @HE I ff! l 7.5' Jl i l. 74

3/ 75 77 75CL fz?- 5 @MCM ATTORNEY.

May 27, 1941. Q El KERR 2,243,463

FILLING VALVE ATTOR EY. fg 9.

May Z7, 1941. lc.A E. KERR FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Char/6.5'. /fef/t /JZ I I A TTOR EY.

.May 27, y1941. C, E. KERR 2,243,463

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 f. ,02 f fos v 97 /fs a4 l @I Z /ee l 6 Y fla l l a l |`I a3 |`I Y 76 7/ r INVENTOR v Char/e6 f. err

ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1941 FILLING VALVE Charles E. Kerr, Hoopeston, lll., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 14, 1937, Serial No. 159,155

29 Claims.

--the liquid are subject to wear and can be made of suitable non-corrosive material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the type described, which will not drip after a filling operation when the can is removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved filling valve which can lhe readily assembled on or removed from a filling machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved filling valve which can be assembled and taken apart without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved llingvaive which can be cleaned easily.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of a valve embodying one form of the invention, the valve being shown as assembled on the tank of a lling machine, the view being taken through the axis of the valve.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper end of the valve.

. the valve with both the vent and the filling passages open.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a valve disclosing a second embodiment of the invention, the wall of the tank and certain control parts of the valve being shown in elevation.

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary plan view of the valve and the control means therefor.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the valve and its control mechanism, the view being .taken inthe plane of the line 8 8 in Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the valve taken in the plane of the line 9 9 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the valve and its control mechanism similar to Fig. 1, but showing the valve with a vent passage open.

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary views of a part of the valve controlling mechanism, Fig. 12 being taken in the plane of the line I 2`l2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation similar to Figs. 6 and l0, but showing the valve and its control mechanism with both the vent and iilling passages open. I

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a filling machine embodying the present invention showing 'primarily the arrangement of the rotatable tank and the spaced stops therefor.

The improved liquid filling valve disclosed herein may be used with various types of filling machines for either filling or syruping operations. For example, one type of machine with which the valve may be employed is disclosed in the patent to Thompson, No. 1,355,015, dated October 5, 1920, wherein a plurality of lling or syruping valves are mounted around the periphery of a tank and the cans or other containers to be iled are successively presented to the valves during rotation of the valves and the tank. In such machines, the valve can either be can operated, that is, it is opened and closed by engagement of the can with `the valve, or it can be mechanically operated as controlled by cams or the like. The present invention is adaptable to either type of operation, as illustrated by the two embodiments of the invention disclosed. ,l

It is highly desirable in such valves, that they be rapid in operation so that the number of cans filled per unit of time will be high, and it is also desirable tha-t the valve operate without causing foaming of the liquid or without dripping, so as to insure accurate filling and to prevent loss of the liquid being filled. With some liquids, it is necessary to dismantle and clean the valves at frequent periodic intervals, so that it is also desirable that the valves be readily assembled and disassembled on the tank and that they can be assembled and taken apart easily. One serious problem encountered in known valves, lies in the corrosion occurring from the acids of the liquid being filled on the parts of the valve which are subjected to wear, and this problem is made more serious by the fact that mostl non-corrosive metals do not have good wearing characteristics. The life of a. valve has been determined largely by the period of time in which undue corrosion will occur, or by the period of time in which non-corrosive metals will stand the Wear involved during operation of the valve.

The valve disclosed herein is designed to overcome the foregoing diiiculties and toy provide a valve of simple construction which can be easily taken apart and reassembled, or removed from or placed on a tank, and which has an unusually long life due to the fact that no wearing surfaces of the valve are subjected to the corrosive e'ects of the liquid being filled. In addition to the foregoing advantages, the valve disclosed herein is adapted for rapid operation with nonfoaming and non-dripping characteristics.

'I'he embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 discloses a valve of the automatic can-operated type wherein the filling and vent passages are opened and closed in accordance with the engagement and disengagement of a can with the valve. Generally, the valve comprises a body which is removably mounted in the bottom wall of the tank, a can lift member which is mounted for adjustment on the body, and passage forming means which extend through the can lift member and the valve body and are secured in or mounted on the upper wall of the tank above the liquid therein.

Referring to Figs. l to 3, the tank I is provided in its bottom wall with an apertured insert II, suitably secured therein and provided with a frusto-conical seat I2 to receive the similarly formed upper end flange I3 of a tubular valve body I4, a sealing ring I5 of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, being seated in an annular groove in the ange I3 to seal the connection between the valve body and the tank. The valve body I4 slidably receives a can lift sleeve I 6 which telescopes thereover, a sealing ring I1 being provided therebetween seated in an annular recess I8 of the valve body. The can lift sleeve I6 is threaded at its lower end to receive a can lift plate 2I in which a resilient can sealing ring 22 is mounted, and which is locked in adjusted position on the sleeve I6 by a. locking nut 23. Intermediate its ends, the sleeve I6 is provided with an annular flange 24 to seat a spring 25 which has its other end engaged with the iiange I3 of the valve body.

From the above description, it will be seen that the can lift sleeve is urged downwardly by the spring 25 and suitable means are provided for limiting the extent of this movement and determining the closed condition of the valve. For

this purpose, the sleeve I6 is provided at its lower y end with a frusto-conical seat 26 which engages the frusto-conical or bell-shaped fitting 21 at the lower end of a vent tube 28. The tube 28 extends upwardly through the sleeve I6, the valve body I4, and has its upper end mounted in a manner later described. The inner surface of frusto-conical fitting 21 is engaged when the valve is closed with a frusto-conical seat 3Il on a fitting 32 secured at the lower end of a can release tube 33 which extends upwardly through the tube 28 and is mounted in the upper wall of the tank in a manner about to be described. The fittings 21 and 32 are provided with spaced radial lugs 34 and 35, respectively, whereby any tendency of the tubes 28 and 33 to get off center with respect to each other and the sleeve I6 is overcome. 'I'he lugs 34 and 35, however, have their ends normally out of frictional engagement with the adjacent walls of the sleeve I6 and the tube 28, respective- 1y.

Tube 33 is threaded at its upper end to receive a sleeve extension 36 of a cap 31 which engages overl the top wall 38 of the tank III, the sleeve ex tension being freely received in a slot 39 formed in the tank wall. To maintain the tube 33 and the cap 31 in place, a conical washer 4I provided about the sleeve extension 36 is urged against the lower face of the wall 38 by a. spring 42 which seats against a washer 43 secured between the sleeve extension 36 and a shoulder on the tube 33. Thus, the cap 31 and the washer 43 provide opposed gripping means whereby the upper end of the valve is removably seated in a fastening station on the wall of the tank, and can be removed therefrom by lifting the valve slightly and pulling the sleeve extension 36 out of the slot 39. It will be noted that the fitting 32 at the lower end of sleeve 33 provides a seat or stop toward which the fitting 21 and the can lift sleeve I6 are urged by the spring 25.

At the upper end of the tube 28, a sleeve cap 46 is provided and a spring 41 is interposed between the cap 46 and an annular flange 48 of the tube 33 whereby the tube 28 is urged upwardly with respect to the tube 33, but such movement is prevented in the closed position of the valve by the spring 25, which is considerably stronger than the spring 41. The sleeve cap 46 also carries a stud 5I threaded therein with its reduced upper end forming a valve cooperating with a passage 52 formed in the cap 31 and communicating with a passage 53 within the tube 33. On the stud 5| a sealing ring 54 of suitable material is provided,

- and the stud 5I is adjusted relative to the cap 46 so that the sealing ring is spaced from the lower surface of the cap 31 a distance equal to the spacing of the upper surface of the sleeve cap 46 from the washer 43, whereby when the Washer 43 is engaged by the sleeve cap 46 as shown in Fig. 4, the stud 5I and its sealing ring 54 serve to close the passage 52 for a purpose later described.

From the above description, it will be seen that three passages are provided from the lower end of the valve, namely, a, filling passage 5S opening from the tank and extending between the valve body I4 and the tube 28, a vent passage 51 between the tubes 33 and 28, and opening above the liquid level in the tank through apertures 58, and a can release passage 53 within the tube 33.

The operation of the valve, as previously stated, is entirely dependent on the engagement of a can with the can lift ring and Such operation will now be described. The valve is shown in Fig. l in closed position where the filling passage 56 and the vent passage 51 are closed, while can release passage 53 is open. When a can is engaged with the ring 22 as shown in Fig. 4 at 59, the first part of the resulting upward movement of thel can lift sleeve I6 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4 serves to open the vent passage 51, because the spring 41 expands to carry the tube 28 upwardly with the can lift sleeve I6, until it engages the Washer 43 whereby the fitting 21 on the tube 28 remains engaged with its seat 26 but moves away from the fitting 32 to open the vent passage. At the same time that the vent passage is opened, it will be noted that the valve stud 5I has closed the can release passage 53.

Continued upward movement of the can 59 causes the can lift sleeve I6 to move its seat 26 away from the fitting 21, further movement of which is prevened by the valve stud 5I, to open the filling passage 56, as shown in Fig. 5,

whereby a flow of liquid from the tank into the can occurs while the air in the can is exhausted through the vent passage 51. The filling operation will continue until the liquid reaches the port formed between the lower edges of the fitting 32 and the tting 21, when no further air can flow back into the tank, and any subsequent flow of liquid from the tank will merely result in the equalizing of the level of the liquid in the tank and the vent passage 51.

As the can begins to recede from the valve, the first operation is to allow the spring 25 t0 become active to change the position of the parts from that shown in Fig. with both the filling and vent passages open, to that in Fig. 4, where the filling passage 56 is closed, the vent passage 51 is open, and the can release passage 53 is still closed. Subsequent downward movement of the can will enable the spring 25 to compress the spring 41 and move the tting 21 down against the fitting 32 to the position shown in Fig. 1, where the vent passage is also closed, and at the same time the can release passage 53 is opened by the Withdrawal of the stud 5| and the sealing ring 54 from the passage 52 in the cap 31. This will result in trapping a certain amount of liquid in the vent passage 51, but because of the conical construction of the passage closing vsurfaces on the fittings 21 and 32, no after drip will occur. When the next can is presented t0 the valve, and the valve is operated thereby to n open the vent passage as shown in Fig. 4, the

liquid which is trapped in the vent passage 51 will be released into the can as the first part of the lling operation, which then continues as described above. During the filling operation, the generally conical or bell-shaped construction of the tting 21 directs the flow of liquid outwardly against the walls of the tank to prevent foaming. It is to be noted that the construction and mounting of the valve locates all relatively sliding valve surfaces above the level of the liquid in the tank so that such surfaces are never contacted by the vliquid and will not be subjected to any coripsive action. The valve construction also provides for easy mounting and removal of the valve with respect to the tank, as well as providing for assembly or disassembly of the valve without the use of tools. It will be noted that the valve has free endwise sliding movement relative to its seat in the tank during assembly and dis-assembly, and is urged against the seat by the spring 25.

The second embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 through 13, illustrates a mechanically operated valve which attains the principal advantageous results noted in connection with the rst form of my invention.

In this form of the invention. the valve is similar in construction and mounting to that first described, but has associated therewith a mechanical control means for automatically determining the open or closed position of the valve during the rotation of a valve with the tank, the control means including certain stationary cams or stops which cooperate with rotating controls associated with each valve.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the valve includes a body 1| which is threaded into the bottom wall 12 of a filling tank and is provided at its lower end with a threaded portion 13 to receive the can ring 14 and a lock nut 15 therefor, the can ring 14 having a sealing ring 15a of rubber or other resilient material mounted therein.

-the adjacent wall surfaces.

cured,

The valve body 1| (Fig. 6) is provided with a central bore 16 terminating 'at the bottom in a bell Jraped recess provided with a seat 11 at its lower edge for engagement by the bell-shaped lower end 18 of a tube 19 which extends upwardly through a bearing fitting threaded in a bracket 8| (Figs. 6 and 7) suitably secured as by screws 82 on a vertical wall 83 of the tank. At its upper end, the tube 19 has a cap 84 secured thereon and a compression spring 86 is interposed between the cap 84 and the bracket 8|, to urge the tube upwardly whereby the bell-shaped end 18 of the tube is maintained resiliently against its seat 11. 'I'he inner surface of the bell-shaped tube end 18 provides a seat for a similarly bellshaped end 9| of a tube 92 extending upwardly through the tube 19, the spacing of the tubes from each other and the valve body 1| being maintained by radial spacing pins 93 (Figs. 6 and 9) mounted in the wall of the tube-,19 and extending to either side thereof, and having their ends normally out of frictional engagement with l At its upper end, the tube 92 (Figs. 6 and 8) is provided with a cap 96 suitably secured thereon and having a sliding fit within the tube 19. The cap 96 has a flanged head 91 extending outwardly beyond the cap 84 of the tube 19 to provide a seat for a spring 98 interposed between the head 91 and the bracket 8|. The cap 96 is provided with a central bore communicating with the passage within the tube 92 and in which a valve slide |0| is mounted. The valve slide |0| has a head |02 on whichv a sealing ring |03 is suitably sea leaf spring |04 being interposed between the head |02 and the ring |03 to urge the valve slide |0I upwardly whereby the opposite apertures |06 therein are normally above the cap 96.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the bore 16 provides a filling passage which, as shown in Fig. 6, is closed by the engagement of the bell-shaped tube end 10 with its seat 11. A vent passage |01 between the tubes 19 and 92 as shown in Fig. 6 is closed by the engagement of the bell-shaped tube end 9| with its seat on tube end 18 and at the upper end opens into the tank above the level of the liquid through opposite apertures |08. Within the tube 92, a can release passage |09 is provided which is controlled at the top by the valve slide |0| in a manner later described.

It Will also be noted that pressure applied on valve slide |0| will rst serve to move the slide downwardly to close the can release passage |09 by engaging the sealing wasler |03 with the cap 96, and th'en the cap 96 and its tube 92 will be moved downwardly against the tension 'of spring 98 until 'the cap flange 91 engages the cap 84 of the tube 19, which will then also partake of the further downward movement. Thus, pressure applied at the top, iirst closes the can release passage, then opens the vent passage and subsequently opens the filling passage, with the vent passage remaining open. If the pressure be relieved,`it is apparent that the opposite sequence of operations will occur.

Means are provided for controlling the valve by applying pressure at the upper end thereof and such means may comprise a bell crank assembly including an arm (Figs. 6, 7 and 8), secured at one end of a pivot pin l2 journalled in a boss ||3 of the bracket 8|, the arm being provided with an adjustable locked set screw ||4 for engagement with the head |02 of the valve slide 'Pin ||2 also carries an arm |I0 0f the bell crank assembly, which extends downwardly into operative relation with a cam I|1 secured ona pin ||0 journalled in a boss ||0 of bracket 0| and having surfaces |2|, |22 and |23 (F183. 6 and 10) of varyin radii. 'I'he pin ||0 also has secured thereon respective arms |20, |21

. and which project outwardly of the tank wall therebetween. At the beginning of the illling operation, the-valve is closed as shown in Fig. 6, the arm I being held in its uppermost position by the engagement of the arm ||0 with the cam surface |2| of shortest radii, the control arm |20 being in substantially upright position for cooperation with the control means therefor.

As a can moves into operative relation with a valve, control means for initiating the filling operation by opening the vent passage and closing the can release passage becomes effective, such control means preferably comprising a stop arm |36 (Figs. 10. 11 and 12) of abell-crank pivoted on a stationary pin |31, and having an arm |30 which is selectively engaged with the notched upper end of a no-canp-no-fill control lever |39. The lever |33 may be suitably controlled in a4 conventional manner so that when no can is fed to a lift plate |3|, the lever |33 is moved out of enl path of travel of the control arm |26 during rotation of the tank, and is positioned so that it will be engaged by the arm |20 as a can is moved into operative relation with a valve. When a can is fed to a lift plate |3I, the nocan-no-fill lever |39 remains in engagement with the arm |30 whereby the arm |36 is non-yielding, and when contacted by the control lever |20 as shown in Fig. 11, will move the lever |20 from the position shown 1n Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 10.' 'Ihis rotation of lever |20 serves to rotate the cam ||1 toengage the intermediate cam surface |22 thereof with the arm ||0 whereby the arm |I moves downwardly and in so doing, moves the valve slide |0| downwardly to close the can release passage |03, and moves the tube 92 downwardly to space its end 9| from the tube 10 to open the vent passage |01 as shown in Fig. 10. 'Ihe opening of the -vent passage |01 allows any liquid trapped therein to fall into the incoming can. It will be noted that the above described adjustment of the cam ||1 results in positioning the control arm |21 thereof in upright active position.

During the continued movement of the valve, a lling control means in the form of a stationary roller |4| (Fig. 13) is engaged by the control arm 21, whereby such is moved from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 13, the cam |1 being rotated to engage its surface |23 of greatest radius with the arm I| 1. The resulting rocking movement of the arms |1 and to move the slide |0|, tube 02, and tube 13 downwardly, whereby the end 10 of tube 13 is moved away from its seat 11 as shown in Fig. 13 to open from the tank to the can. This movement also places control |20 of the cam ||1 in active position.

'I'he filling operation continues during rotation of the tank until the liquid closes the vent passage |01 by rising to the level of the line L in Fig. 13, where it will be held by air trapped in the can and in the release passage |00. Obviously, the amount of fill may be varied by adjusting the can ring 10 on the valve body 1| and by correspondingly adjusting the set screw ||0 in the arm to keep the valve closed when conditioned as in Fig. 6.

After the liquid reaches the level L, some of the liquid will risein the vent passage |01 until the valve closing control means becomes effective. Such control-means may comprise a stationary roller 142 (Fig. 6) which is mounted in the path of travelof the control arm |20 so as to be contacted thereby and move from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 6, whereby the ca m I1 is also restored to the position thereof shown in Fig. 6 and the valve is restored to closed position. v

The above described cycle of operation will be repeated with each successive can as it is brought into operative relation with a valve.

While I have Shown arid described certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of further variation and modification, and its scope, therefore, should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A illling machine comprising a tank having' an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, a illling valve associated with said tank comprising valve body means secured in the aperture of said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a plurality of tubes operatively related to said` valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, said tubes having relative endwise movement controlled by bearing surfaces located adjacent their upper ends only, a slotted seat on said side wall adjacent the upper edge thereof, and an abutment at the upper ends of said tubes having horizontally slidable and overlapping engagement with said seat.

2. A filling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, a lling valve associated with said tank comprising valve body means secured in the aperture of said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a plurality of tubes operatively related to said valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, said tubes having relative endwise movement controlled by bearing surfaces located adjacent their upper ends only, an apertured seat on said side wall adjacent the upper end thereof, and an abutment at the upper ends of said tubes for engagement with said seat by sliding movement and having horizontally overlapping engagement with said seat.

3. A filling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, a filling valve associated with said tank comprising valve body means secured in the aperture oi' said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a plurality of tubes operatively related to said valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, the outer tube having a substantially frusto-conical lower end engaging the iillling passage 10 and enable a flow of liquid 75` a seat in said valve body means and an inner tube having a substantially frusta-conical seat engaging said outer tube end, said tubes having relative endwise movement. with respect to each other and said body means and controlled by bearing surfaces located adjacent the upper ends of said tubes only, a slotted seat on said side wall adjacent the upper edge thereof, and an abutment at the upper ends of said tubes having horizontally slidable and overlapping engagement with said seat.

4. A lling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, a filling valve associated with said tank comprising valve body means secured in the aperture of said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a plurality of tubes operatively related to said valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, the outer tube having a substantially frusto-conical lower end engaging a seat in said valve body means and an inner tube having a substantially truste-conical seat engaging said outer tube end, said tubes having relative endwise movement with respect to each other and said body means and controlled by bearing surfaces located adjacent the upper ends of said tubes only, an apertured seat on said side wall adiacent the upper end thereof, and an abutment at the upper ends of said tubes for engagement with said seat by sliding movement and having horizontally overlapping engagement with said seat.

5. A iilling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, valve body means mounted in an aperture of said wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of telescoped tubes extending upwardly through said valve body means, the outer tube having an end seated against said valve body means to close the annular filling passage provided between said outer tube and said valve body means, and the inner tube having an end seated against said outer tube end to close the annular vent passage provided between said tubes, means associated with the upper ends of said tubes above the level of liquid in said tank to control relative movement therebetween, a slotted seat on said side wall adjacent the upper edge thereof, and an abutment at the upper ends of said tubes having horizontally slidable and overlapping engagement with said seat.

6. A filling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom Wall, valve body means mounted in an aperture of said wall, a pair of telescoped tubes extending upwardly through said valve body means, the outer tube having an end seated against said valve body means to close the annular filling passage provided between said outer tube and said valve body means, and the inner tube having an end seated against said outer tube end to close the annular vent passage provided between said tubes, the passage within said inner tube providing a can release passage, means` associated with the upper ends of said tubes above the level of liquid in said tank to control relative movement therebetween, and valve means at the upper end of said inner tube for closing the upper end of said can release passage during lling of a can by the valve.

7. A lling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve associated with an aperture in said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith comprising a body member and a pair of telescoped tube members, each of said members having an enlarged seat at its lower end with the seat of the outer tube member interposed between the respective seats of said inner tube and body members, said inner one of said members adjacent its upper end having a horizontally slidable interlocking connection with said tank and thereby being stationary relative to the other members to form a stop therefor, and spring means urging said movable members to maintain said seats engaged to determine the closed condition of the valve, saidtube members having relative sliding engagement at their upper ends only above the level of liquid in said tank.

8. A iilling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve associated With an aperture in said bottom wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith comprising a body member and a pair of telescoped tube members, each of said members having an enlarged seat at its lower end with the seat of the outer tube member interposed between the respective seats of said inner tube and body members, said inner one of said members adjacent its upper end having a horizontally slidable interlocking connection with said tank and thereby being stationary relative to the other members to form a stop therefor, spring means urging said movable members to maintain said seats engaged to determine the closed condition of the valve, said tube members having relative sliding engagement at their upper ends only above the level of liquid in said tank, and stop means between said tubemembers for limiting relative movement therebetween.

9. A iilling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, valve body means comprising a stationary body member seated for free removal in an aperture of said wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a movable body member telescoping thereover, spring means urging said movable body member downwardly and holding said valve body in its seat, a stationary tube having a substantially frusto-conical lower end and having its upper end secured above the level of liquid in said tank, and a movable tube telescoping over said stationary tube and having a substantially frusto-conical end interposed between said stationary tube end and a substantially frusto-conical seat on said movable body member, whereby said inner tube forms a stop cr said outer tube and said movable body mem- 10. A lling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, valve body means comprising a stationary body member seated for free removal in an aperture of said wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a movable body member telescoping thereover, spring means urging said movable body member downwardly and holding said valve body in its seat, a stationary tube having a substantially frusto-conical lower end and having its upper end secured above the level of liquid in said tank, a movable tube telescoping over said stationary tube and having a substantially frusto-conical end interposed between said stationary tube end and a substantially frusto-conical seat on said movable body member, and other spring means normally compressed by said iirst-named spring means for urging said outer tube upwardly relative to said inner tube.

11. A nlling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, valve body means comprising a stationary body member seated in an aperture of said wall and a movable body member telescoping thereover, spring means urging said movable body member downwardly, a stationary .tube having a substantially frustoconical lower end and having its upper end secured above the level of liquid in said tank. a movable tube telescoping over said stationary tube and having a substantially frusta-conical end interposed between said stationary tube end and a substantially frusto-conical seat on said movable body member, other spring means normally compressed by said ilrst-named spring means for urging said outer tube upwardly relative to said inner tube, and means carried by said outer tube for closing the upper end of the passage through said inner tube.

12. A illling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, valve body means comprising a stationary body member seated for free removal in an aperture of said wall and having free endwise sliding movement into and out of engagement therewith and a movable body member telescoping thereover. spring means urging saidA movable body member downwardly and holding said valve body in its seat, a stationary tube having a substantially frusto-conical lower end and having its upper end secured above the level of liquid in said tank, a movable tube telescoping over said stationary tube and having a substantially frusto-conical end interposed between said stationary tube end and a substantially irusto-conical seat on said movable body member, other spring means normally compressed by said ilrst named spring means for urging said outer tube upwardly relative to said inner tube, and a stop on said inner tube for limiting the upward movement of said outer tube.

13. A illling'machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall and a side wall, valve body means pressed into an aperture o1' said bottom wall for free removal therefrom, passage forming means cooperating with said valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, and a control valve for said passage forming means on the upper end thereof, having an apertured seat and a valve member for engagement with said seat by sliding movement and having horizontally overlapping engagement with said seat.

14. A illling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, valve body means removably secured in an aperture of said bottom wall, passage forming means cooperating with said valve body means and extending upwardly therethrough, relatively movable spring urged gripping means at the upper end of said passage forming means, and stationary supporting means for gripping engagement by said gripping means.

15. A illling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, a pair of telescoped tubes having seats cooperating with each other and a seat on said body, said tubes extending upwardly through said body and said tank, bracket means above the level ofliquidin said tank for slidably receiving said tubes, spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, and cam control means for said tubes for de- 1 pressing said tubes sequentially.

16. A illling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom' wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture oi said wall, a pair oi' telescoped tubes having seats cooperating with in an aperture of said wall, a pair of telescoped tubes having seats cooperating with each other and a seat on said body, said tubes extending upwardly through said body and said tank. bracket means above the level of liquid in said tank for slidably receiving said tubes, spring means Afor, urging each of said tubes upwardly, a cam having respective surfaces of varying radii, and a bellcrank having one arm associated with said tubes and another arm associated with said cam.

18. A filling machine comprising a rotatable ltank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture oi' said wall, a pair of telescoped tubes having seat means at the lower ends thereof, the outer tube seat means engaging a seat on said body and the inner tube seat means engaging said outer tube seat means, bracket means above the level of liquid in said tank, said tubes extending upwardly through said valve body and said bracket means, spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, means for controlling sequential raising andy lowering of said tubes, and operating means for said controlling means spaced about said tank.

19. A illling machine comprising a rotatable tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, a pair of telescoped tubes having seat means at the lower ends thereof, the outer tube seat means engaging a seat on said body and the inner tube seat means engaging said outer tube seat means, bracket means above the level of liquid in said tank, said tubes extending upwardly through said valve body and said bracket means, spring means for urging each oi said tubes upwardly, means for controlling sequential raising and lowering of said tubes including a cam and a plurality of control arms therefor, and operating means for said controlling means including a plurality of stops spaced about said tank for successive engagement with said control arms.

20. A illling machine comprising a rotatable tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, a pair oi' telescoped tubes having seat means at the lower ends thereof, the outer tube seat means engaging a seat on saidbody and the inner tube seat means engaging said outer tube seat means, bracket means above the level of liquid in said tank, said tubes extending upwardly through said valve body and said bracket means, and spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, the annular space between the outer tube and said body providing a illling passage, the annular space between said tubes providing a vent passage, and said inner tube providing a can release passage.

2l. A illling machine comprising a rotatable tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, passage iorming means extending upwardly through said valve body and having seat means at the lower end for engagement with a seat on said body, said passage forming means providing separate illling and vent passages therethrough,

bracket means on said tank located above the level of liquid in said tank for connection with the upper end of said passage forming means, and

means associated with the upper end of said passage forming means for controlling sequential opening and closing of. said vent and filling passages.

22. A lling machine comprising a rotatable. tank having an apertured bottom wall, a. valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, passage forming means extending upwardly through said valve body and having seat means at the lower end for engagement with a seat on said body, said passage forming means providing separate illing and vent passages therethrough, bracket means on said tank located above the level of liquid in said tank for connection with the upper end of said passage forming means, means associated with the upper end of said passage forming means for controlling sequential opening and closing of said vent and filling passages, and operating means for said controlling means spaced about said tank.

23. A filling machine comprising a tank having an apertured bottom wall, a valve body mounted in an aperture of said wall, a set of passage forming means having seats cooperating with each other and a seat on said body, said passage forniing means Vextending upwardly through said body and said tank, bracket means above the level of liquid in said tank for slidably receiving said passage iorming means, spring means for urging each of said passage forming means upwardly, and control means for operating said passage forming means sequentially.

24. A lling machine comprising a tank, a valve associated with said tank including a valve body, a pair of telescoped tubes having seats cooperating with each other and a seat on said body, said tubes extending upwardly through said body, bracket means on said tank for slidably receiving said tubes, spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, an arm for depressing said tubes, and a cam for controlling movement of said arm.

25. A filling machine comprising a rotatable tank, a valve body mounted on said tank, a pair of telescoped tubes having seat means at the lower ends thereof, the outer tube seat means engaging a seat on said body and the inner tube seat means engaging said outer tube seat means, bracket means on said tank, said tubes extending upwardly through said valve body and said bracket means, spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, means for controlling sequential raising and lowering of said tubes, and operating means for said controlling means spaced about said tank.

26. A lling machine comprising a rotatable tank, a valve body mounted on said tank, a pair of telescoped tubes having seat means at the lower ends thereof, the outer tube seat means engaging a seat on said body and the innr tube seat means engaging said outer tube seat means, bracket means on said tank, said tubes extending upwardly through said valve body and said bracket means, spring means for urging each of said tubes upwardly, means for controlling sequential raising and lowering of said tubes including a cam and a plurality of control arms therefor, and operating means for said controlling means including a plurality of stops spaced about said tank for successive engagement with said control arms.

27. A filling machine comprising a tank, an apertured valve seat on the bottom wall of said tank, a valve body engaged with said seat, an apertured seat on the side wall of said tank in alignment with said valve seat and above the level of liquid in said tank, a stop member extending upwardly through said valve body for free detachable sliding engagement with said side lWall seat, and connecting means between said stop member and said body including spring means interposed therebetween, said spring means serving to urge said valve body and said stop member against the respective seats engaged therewith to maintainsaid valve in position on said tank.

28. A lling machine comprising a tank, an apertured valve seat on the bottom wall of said tank, a valve body engaged with said seat, an

apertured valve seat on the side wall of said tank in alignment with said bottom wall seat and above Vthe level of liquid in said tank, passage forming means cooperating with said valve body and extending upwardly therethrough, relatively movable spring-urged gripping means at the upper end of said passage forming means for engagement with said side wall valve seat, and connecting means between said passage forming means and said valve body including spring means interposed therebetween, said spring means serving to urge said valve body and said stop member against the respective seats engaged therewith to maintain said valve in position on said tank.

29. A filling machine comprising a tank, a valve seat on the bottom of said tank, a valve body engaged with said valve seat, an apertured seat on the side wall of the tank, a stop member extending upwardly through said valve body for free detachable sliding engagement with said apertured seat, and resilientl means between the valve body and said stop member for urging said valve body and stop member into engagement with their respective seats.

CHARLES E. KERR. 

